Washington – Former Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a central provision of the Affordable Care Act.

“The Supreme Court has now twice upheld the landmark health reform law. Today’s ruling should put to rest once and for all the attacks that have distracted from the important benefits the Affordable Care Act offers millions of Americans across the country.

“The Affordable Care Act is working. The rate of uninsured Americans has dropped significantly. Americans can no longer be charged more for insurance simply because of their gender or because of a preexisting condition. And millions of people are now getting critical preventive care without a co-pay.

“The ACA was the culmination of decades of work led by my dear friend, Ted Kennedy, who dedicated his life to this cause. I was honored when he asked me to take over for him and to lead the efforts in the Senate HELP Committee during passage of the Affordable Care Act and I am grateful for the tremendous work of the Senators, Members of the House, and their staffs that made decent, affordable health care for Americans a reality.

"With the Court’s decision, it is time now for all of us to move forward together to make this law work for all Americans so that our nation can fulfill its promise of making affordable, quality health care a right for all.”